Tile covered, fireproofed structural element



Jan. 5, 1954 J. P. MARcY TILE COVERED, FIREPROOF'ED STRUCTURAL ELEMENTFiled Jan. 2, 1948 AA w Patented Jan. v5, 1954 PATENT OFFICE TILECOVERED, FIREPROOFED STRUCTURAL ELEMENT John P. Marcy, Alhambra, Calif.

Application January 2, 1948, Serial N o. 318

(Cl. 'Z2-'73) 4 Claims.

This invention relates to the field of building and construction andmore speoiiically to lire-l proong of steel structures and buildings,particularly the load-bearing structural steel thereof.

The primary object of this invention is the provision of reproongstructure taking the form of pre-cast blocks disposed in end-to-endrelationship along the particular member to be fireproofed and havinginterlocking structure for holding the blocks in place that is quicklyand easily positioned for use and is eicient in its function of holdingthe blocks together.

The most important object of this invention is to provide reprooingblocks having interconnecting means either in the inherent contour ofthe blocks themselves or through use oi a specially formed key that willprevent separation of the blocks and the sections thereof once the sameare positioned on the member to be protected.

Many additional objects will be made clear during the course of thefollowing specification, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a vertical structural steel columnshowing the same reproofed using one form of my present invention, partsbeing broken away for clearness.

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional View taken on line II-II oi Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken on line Ill-III ofFig. l.

Fig. l is a cross sectional view taken on irregular line IV-IV of Fig.3.

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional View similar to that shown in Fig. 2 showinga modied form ofkey.

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional View similar to that shown in Fig. 5 showinganother modied form of key.

Primarily the nreproong structure about to be described is for use onload-bearing structural steel such as used in oil renery and chemicalplants, although buildings generally may Well have the framework thereofso reproofed. In oil refineries particularly, steel framework subjectedto res creates an extremely hazardous condition unless adequatelyprotected against possible re.

4Many buildings, although capable of opposing the access of fire fromWithout, but having combustible contents, are far from deserving thename of reproof, though they may resist a certain amount of scorching.Thus it has been the practice to separately reproof load-bearingstructural steel but the methods used have been expensive. This expensehas been recently enhanced by high cost of lumber and constructionlabor. Such reproofing by poured concrete or 2 like methods hastherefore become almost prohibitive.

The reproong means about to be described contemplates the use oipre-cast blocks made from red clay such as is commonly used in hard redbrick, concrete or other stucturally suitable material capable of beingformed into blocks and having iire and weather resistantcharacteristics.

The embodiment of my invention shown in the accompanying drawingincludes the use of separate fastening means for holding the blocksections and the blocks themselves together,

The form of fireproong illustrated in the drawing is shown on a verticalH-shaped structural steel frame member l0 that is conventionallyconnected to a base plate i2. A sectional base block l 4 has a recess iii formed therein to clear the plate l2 and its fastening means. Thisbase block M, as well as the sectional blocks about to be described, ismade from any material capable of casting or molding into the shapedesired and having fire and weather resistant characteristics as well asbeing suiiciently durable to be structurally suitable. Such materialvmay be red clay such as is commonly used in hard red brick, concrete orthe like.

The blocks which circumscribe the member lil upwardly from 4base blocki4 are broadly designated by the numeral It and are positioned inend-to-end relative abutting relationslnp to coinpletely cover themember lil. These blocks I6 are sectional, there being a pair ofsections i3 and 2t in the embodiment shown of identical character. Asshown most clearly in Fig. 2, each of the sections I3 and 29 is U-shapedin cross section and formed to embrace substantially onehalf of themember lil when positioned thereon.

One leg of the section It has a longitudinal, internal groove 22 formedtherein to receive a longitudinal rib 2t of the opposed leg of section2). The opposite leg of section It has an eX- ternal, longitudinalgroove 25 to receive an exn ternal rib 28 on the opposed leg of section2t. .lt is clear that a lap joint is thus formed between the sections i8and Z at each of their opposed legs.

As shown in Fig. l, lap joints s@ are also formed between the blocks Itby providing each section i8 and 2@ with an external groove along oneedge oi' the bight thereof and an internal groove along the oppositeedge of its bight.

The internal faces of the legs of each section i3 and 2l] havelongitudinal grooves 32 formed therein that extend from one end of thesections to a point intermediate the ends thereof. These grooves 32receive the legs or a lJ-shaped key Srl that is also provided with acentrally disposed projection 36 extending oppositely from the said legsof key 34.

The base block it is also provided with vertical grooves such as at 32for receiving keys 3d and is formed to cooperate with sections I8 and 20to present a lap joint 58 with the first block l.

After base block Ill is positioned over plate l2 and around a portion ofmember i, a pair of keys 34 are inserted within the grooves of block Id.These keys 35i have a length sufficient to.

extend a distance above block Hl and are disposed in opposed relation oneach side ofY member i with the projections 3c thereof wedged tightlyagainst the center cross plate of member IG.

The first block I6 is then slipped into place with all lap jointsinterlocking and with that portion of the keys 3e above block i4received lby the respective grooves 32.

The next step is to insert another set of keys 34 into grooves 32 fromthe uppermost edge of the rst block i6. These keys Sli will rest uponthe innermost ends of their respective grooves and extend outwardlytherefrom for receiving the next block i6.

It is to be noted that the keys Sii, which are formed from the samematerial as blocks iii and l@ serve not only to hold sections it and 29together but prevent any possible displacement thereof in any direction.The manner in which keys Sil overlap the lap joints 3S and bringtogether the sections i8 and 2t at their point of interlocking adds tothe durability and strength of the nreproofing structure.

A cap di) takes much the same form of the keys 34 as shown in Figs. 3and 4 and is sectional to close the iireproong wall either at a desiredpoint along the member le or at its end. This cap 11.0 is also formed tocooperate with the block it next adjacent thereto to form a lap joint onall sides as at :i2 and completely nlls in the entire space surroundingthe member i.

In Fig. a modified forni of key 56 is shown to hold together thesections 52 and 5d of a block 56 of identical character as block it justabove described. This key 5t is preferably formed from asbestos cementand is substantially U-shaped in cross section. The legs of this key 5bhave inturned ears e@ formed thereon which are received by grooves El@within the inner faces of the legs of U-shaped sections 52 and es. rIhetwo legs of key 5e rest flatly along the two inner faces of therespective side walls of H-shaped member G2 While the bight thereof iswedged tightly against the center cross bar of member 52. rShe length ofgrooves E@ and of keys 50 and the manner of assembling is the saine asabove described with respect to the modification of Figs. l to 3inclusive.

In Fig. b' a metallic key l@ of U-shaped cross section is shown placedin a block l2 in the identical manner as key 5e of Fig. 5. In this case,however, the legs of key 70 extend directly into grooves 74 formed inblock l2 to hold the sections thereof in place.

It is to be noted that the form shown in Figs. l to 6 inclusive isillustrated on a vertical column, but the blocks and keys thereof maywell be used en horizontal beams.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. Fireproong structure for a preeformed, metallic, elongated H-beam,said structure cornprisng a plurality of pre-formed, fire-resistant the.

blocks disposed in end-to-end and abutting relationship throughout thelength of and in complete circumscribing arrangement to said beam, theabutting edges of the blocks being in shiplapped relationship, eachblock including a pair of opposed, U-shaped sections with the remoteedges of opposed leg portions thereof in abutting relationship, theabutting edges of the leg portions of the sections being in shiplappedrelationship; and means holding the sections against lateraldisplacement relative to the beam, said means comprising a pair ofopposed, pre-formed keys interposed between the beam and the blocks andeach directly engaging the beam and both sections of the blocks andholding the blocks against movement in one direction relative tothe-beam,- each section having a pair oi grooves therein receivingportions of the keys, whereby the. keys hold the sections againstseparation.

2. Fireproong structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein one of saidpair of grooves of each section is on the inner surface o one legportion of the section, the other of said grooves of each section is onthe inner surface of the other leg portion of the section, and each keyis provided with a U-.shaped portion presenting a pair of spaced legs onthe key, the legs of each key being respectively disposed within and inengagement with a groove of each of the sections.

3. Fireproonng structure as set forth in claim l, wherein one of saidpair of grooves of each section is on the inner surface of one legportion of the section, the other of said grooves of each section is onthe inner surface of the other leg portion of the section, and each keyis provided with a U-shaped portion presenting a pair of spaced legs onthe key, the legs of each key being respectively disposed within andengagement with a groove of each of the sections, said U-shaped portionof each of the keys being wedged between opposed parts of said beam.

4. Fireproong structure as set forth in claim l, wherein one of saidpair of grooves of each section is on the inner surface of one legportion of the section, the other of said'grooves of section is on theinner surface of the other leg portion of the section, each key isprovided with a U-shaped portion presenting a pair of spaced legs on thekey, the legs or each key being revspectively disposed within and inengagement with a groove of each of the sections, and each key isprovided with a projection extending from the bight of the U-shapedportion of the key in a direction oppositely to said legs thereof,projection of each key bearing against the beam, said bight of theU-shaped portion of each key bearing against the blocks.

JOHN P. MARCY.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,136,874 Hayde Api'. 2Q, 1915 1,617,762 Kiefer Feb. l5,1,779,721 Yeager Oct. 28, i930 2,556,878 Kohlhaas June 12, 1951 FOREIGNPATENTS Number Country Date 325,505 France of i902 25,140 Great Britainof 1912 299,903 Italy of i932 553,655 Great Britain of 1943

